Texas Meat Packers caught operating without USDA inspection

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) caught Texas Meat Packers in Fort Worth operating without inspection personnel being present last Saturday (March 24), causing a recall today (March 31)  of beef products.     FSIS discovered the operation on  Friday (March 30) through a review of Texas Meat Packers records.

Owned by PFP Enterprises LLC,  Texas Meat Packers has recalled approximately 7,146 pounds of raw beef products that were produced and packaged without the benefit of federal inspection,  according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service

The frozen and fresh beef items were produced on both March 23-24, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:

• 5-lb. vacuum-packed frozen packages of “BEEF SKIRT DICED FOR TACOS,” with a case code of 1470 in the upper left-hand corner of the label and a packaging date of 03/24/18.
• 5-lb. vacuum-packed frozen packages of “PRESEASONED BEEF FOR FAJITAS,” with a case code of 36989 in the upper left-hand corner of the label and a packaging date of 03/24/18 and a use-by date of 03/23/19.
• Varying weights of vacuum-packed packages of fresh “USDA CHOICE ANGUS BEEF, FAJITA SEASONED STEAK, BEEF FLANK STEAK FOR FAJITAS,” a packaging date of 03/23/18 and 03/24/18, a use or freeze-by date of 04/18/18, and an item code of 567248261 in the upper left-hand corner of the case label.
• Varying weights of vacuum-packed packages of fresh “USDA CHOICE ANGUS, FAJITA SEASONED STRIPS, BEEF FLANK STRIPS FOR FAJITAS,” a packaging date of 03/24/18, and a use or freeze-by date of 04/18/18, and an item code of 567248253 in the upper left-hand corner of the case label.

The recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 34715” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to institutional and retail locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The recalled beef has not yet made anyone ill.   Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website.

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Canada’s Salmonella investigation sparks chicken nugget recall

E. coli O157:H7 findings trigger multiple beef recalls in Canada

Two more ground beef recalls are in effect in Canada because of positive test results showing contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Multiple brands distributed by three companies are now implicated.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency posted the first notice on March 18. It was for ground beef from Good Butcher and packaged for for meal-kit provider GoodFood and distributed directly to consumers across the country.

At that time the CFIA reported no illnesses had been confirmed. However, the agency’s recall notice on the GoodFood products said “additional products could be recalled if the CFIA finds that they include the ground beef from Good Boucher.”

The agency is now reporting that it has found additional products containing the Good Boucher ground beef. Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers for any of the recalled products. Under no circumstances should the recalled products be consumed.

Consumers should look for the following label information to determine whether they have unused portions of the recalled beef in their homes:

• Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef N/O, 2.50 kg. Product code 18-03-05; Distributed in Quebec
• Triple A Lean Ground Beef Triple A, 8 x 454g. Packed on 18-03-05; Distributed in Quebec

The following recalled ground beef products were distributed to restaurants, hotels and institutional customers in Ontario and/or Québec:

• Dubé Loiselle Maison Ground Beef Lean, 2 x 2.5 kg. Production date 07-03-18; Distributed in Quebec
• Dubé Loiselle Maison Ground Beef Medium Lean, 2 x 2.5 kg. Production date 07-03-18; Distributed in Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Extra Lean Ground Beef Home Style, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 37825; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 19-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Lean Ground Beef, 5 x 1 kg. Product code 35096; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 05-3-2019; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Lean Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33360; Lot #18-03-07; Best before 07-03-2019; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Lean Ground Beef Home Style, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 37824; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 19-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Lean Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33355; Lot #18-03-07; Best before 21-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Extra Lean Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33345; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 19-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 39139; Lot #18-03-05; Distributed in Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33318; Lot #18-03-07; Best before 21-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33318; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 19-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Lean Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 33355; Lot #18-03-05; Best before 19-03-2018; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec
• Viandes Lauzon Medium Ground Beef, 2 x 2.5 kg. Product code 39187; Lot #18-03-07; Distributed in Ontario and Quebec

The following beef trimmings were recalled from one or more warehouses in Québec

• Les Viandes Forget Beef Trimmings 85%, 27.22 kg; Packed on 18FEB21
• Les Viandes Forget Beef Trimmings NC 65%, 27.22 kg; Packed on 18FEB21

CFIA warns that food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause illness. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea.

Young children and some elderly victims are at risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe and sometimes fatal complication of an E. coli O157:H7 infection. HUS strikes approximately 5 percent to 10 percent of STEC-infected children under the age of 10 years, affecting the kidneys, digestive system and other organs. HUS is fatal in 3 percent to 5 percent of cases, while other HUS victims may suffer long-term consequences of their illness, including hypertension or impaired kidney function.

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Dried coconut identified in outbreak; CDC says don’t eat it

The CDC his urging the public to avoid eating certain brands of dried coconut because they are linked to a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella poisoning that has been ongoing since September 2017.

This outbreak is unrelated to the Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen shredded coconut announced in January

“CDC recommends people not eat recalled International Harvest Inc. brand Go Smile! Raw Coconut, Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw or recalled Natural Grocers Coconut Smiles Organic,” according to an outbreak notice posted today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Retailers and restaurants should not sell or serve recalled dried coconut products, the CDC said.

“Even if some of the recalled dried coconut was eaten or served and no one got sick, throw it away or return it to the place of purchase,” the CDC notice said, adding that sanitizing procedures should be implemented.

“Put it in a sealed bag in the trash so that children, pets, and other animals can’t eat it. Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators and freezers where recalled coconut was stored.

“If you aren’t sure if your dried coconut was recalled, do not eat it and throw it away.”

Thirteen people from eight states are confirmed to be infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium that has been found in the implicated brands of dried coconut. Three of the victims have required hospitalization because of severe symptoms. No deaths had been confirmed as of today.

Of the victims for whom complete information is available, 88 percent reported eating dried coconut purchased at grocery stores before they became sick. Of the seven people who reported eating dried coconut before becoming ill, four said they purchased the product at different Natural Grocers store locations.

However, illnesses that occurred after Jan. 25 might not yet be reported to the CDC because of the time it takes between when a person becomes sick and when the illness is reported to local, state and ultimately federal public health officials. Please see the CDC’s “Timeline for Reporting Cases of Salmonella Infection” for more details.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Sept. 22, 2017, to Feb. 26, 2018. Ill people range in age from 1 to 73 years, with a median age of 40. Sixty-seven percent are female.

FDA’s role in the investigation
The Food and Drug Administration has been working with state officials to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. They collected leftover dried coconut from ill people’s homes, as well as dried coconut from Natural Grocers store locations where ill people shopped and from the Natural Grocers’ Distribution Center.

FDA testing identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium in an unopened sample of Natural Grocers Coconut Smiles Organic collected from Natural Grocers.

The outbreak strain was also identified in an opened, leftover sample of Natural Grocers Coconut Smiles Organic collected from an ill person’s home.

In addition,FDA collected dried coconut from International Harvest Inc. The outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium was identified in samples of International Harvest Brand Organic Go Smile! Dried Coconut Raw and Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw.

Courtesy of Natural Grocers

On March 16, 2018, International Harvest Inc. recalled bags of Organic Go Smile! Raw Coconut and bulk packages of Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw on March 16. The recalled Organic Go Smile! Raw Coconut was sold online and in stores in 9-ounce bags with sell-by dates from Jan. 1, 2018, through March 1, 2019.

Recalled bulk Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw was sold in a 25-pound case labeled with batch/lot numbers OCSM-0010, OCSM-0011, and OCSM-0014. These products were sold in various grocery stores. Regulatory officials are working to determine where else Organic Go Smile! Raw Coconut and Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw were sold.

On March 19, Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets Inc. recalled packages of Natural Grocers Coconut Smiles Organic labeled with barcode 8034810 and packed-on numbers lower than 18-075. Recalled Natural Grocers Coconut Smiles Organic were sold in 10-ounce clear plastic bags with the Natural Grocers label. The packed-on number can be found in the bottom left-hand corner of the label.

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Mickey Brown beef burritos recalled for no inspections

Houma, LA-based Mickey Brown Inc. has recalled approximately 4,130 pounds of beef burrito products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The ready-to-eat beef burrito items were produced on various dates from March 28, 2017 through March 6, 2018. Recalled  products include:

• 1-lb. 2-oz. plastic packages containing “Mickey Brown’s A Taste of Cajun 3 Beef Burritos.”

The recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 33915” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products are labeled with “Keep Refrigerated” but may be frozen. The products are not labeled with a “best by” or “use by” date. These items were shipped to distributors in Louisiana, which then distributed the product for further retail and internet sales.

The mistake was discovered by FSIS during routine inspection activities.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

When available, the retail distribution lists will be posted on th at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

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Infections linked to Natural Grocers coconut; recall underway

Six illnesses have been reported in connection with Natural Grocers brand organic Coconut Smiles, which are now under recall after the company and the FDA confirmed Salmonella contamination in the product.

Natural Grocers of Lakeland, CO, distributed the implicated Coconut Smiles to 145 stores in 19 states, according to a recall news release from the company.

Courtesy of Natural Grocers

“The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in some packages,” Natural Grocers reported. “The recall was initiated after it was discovered that a sample taken by the Food and Drug Administration was positive for Salmonella.

“Production of the product has been suspended while the Food and Drug Administration and the company continue their investigation into the source of the problem. Six illnesses have been reported by individuals who ate Coconut Smiles Organic purchased from Natural Grocers. Consumers who may have purchased this product should return it to the store for credit or refund.”

As of Monday, the FDA had not posted the company’s recall notice. Agency officials were not immediately available Monday afternoon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also had not posted information on the outbreak, but the federal public health agency generally does not report on outbreaks unless they involve more than one state.

Consumers can identify the recalled “Coconut Smiles Organic” by looking for the following label information:

• The recalled product is packaged in clear plastic bags weighing 10 ounces;
• The “Natural Grocers” brand is on the label;
• All packages with packed-on dates prior to 18-075 are subject to recall. The packed-on date can be found in the bottom left-hand corner of the label;
• UPC number 8034810.

Natural Grocers distributed the recalled coconut product in 19 states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Consumers can find the specific locations of the Natural Grocers stores in those states at: https://www.naturalgrocers.com/storelocations/store-directory/.

Consumers with questions may contact the company by calling Customer Service at 303-986-4600, Ext. 80531, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain time.

Advice to consumers
Salmonella is a microorganism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, including diabetics, cancer patients, transplant recipients and HIV patients.

Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella poisoning should seek medical attention immediately and tell their doctors about their possible exposure to the pathogen.

Symptoms can include fever, diarrhea that is often bloody, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.

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Top sirloin steaks recalled for possible salmonella contamination

In Bridgeview, IL, SMI Holdings Inc., doing business as Stampede Meat,  has recalled approximately 484,800 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

The raw beef products were incorporated into a non-meat ingredient, Au Jus Seasoning, which tested positive for the presence of Salmonella.  The frozen raw beef top sirloin steak items were produced on various dates from Feb. 19, 2018 through March 14, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:

• Cases containing 64 6-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “USDA SELECT OR HIGHER BONELESS BEEF TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS,” (item #5404) with lot codes ranging from 05018 to 07318 (inclusive) and “Best By” dates from Feb. 19, 2019, to Mar. 14, 2019 (inclusive).
• Cases containing 64 8-oz. vacuum-packed packages of “USDA SELECT OR HIGHER BONELESS BEEF TOP SIRLOIN STEAKS,” (item #5419) with lot codes ranging from 05018 to 07318 (inclusive) and “Best By” dates from Feb. 19, 2019, to Mar. 14, 2019 (inclusive).

The recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 19113” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors, which in turn shipped the products to restaurant locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when Stampede Meat, Inc. was notified by their supplier of a voluntary seasoning recall based on Salmonella contamination. Stampede Meat, Inc. uses this seasoning product to formulate marinade that is injected into the top sirloin steaks. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their healthcare provider.

The products were shipped to restaurants frozen. These restaurants cook and prepare the product for consumers, who may take the product home as leftovers. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website.

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